The Emory University women’s soccer completed the most successful campaign in the program’s history in 2010, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championships and finishing the year ranked fifth in the nation.

The Eagles finished the season with an overall record of 16-2-4, marking the third time in the last four seasons that the team has reached the 16-win plateau, matching the second-best win total in the program’s history.  Emory’s ranking of fifth in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III poll was the best in the 25-year history of the program.  It was the first time since 2000, and the third time overall, that Emory has ended the year ranked among the top-10 teams nationally.

Emory began its NCAA Tournament run by hosting the first two rounds of the bracket, and opening with a 2-0 victory over Maryville College (Tenn.) in the first round.  In the second round, Emory up-ended Lynchburg College (the 18^th-ranked Division III squad in the final poll) with a 2-1 double-overtime victory.  Heading to Abilene, TX for the sectionals, the Eagles advanced with a 9-8 shootout victory after playing seventh-ranked Wheaton College (Ill.) to a 1-1 tie.  Emory’s run would come to an end against host school and eventual National Champion Hardin-Simmons University with a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals.

The tournament run also featured a number of individual program-record performances from Emory players.  Despite playing in her first collegiate postseason, freshman Kelly Costopoulos became Emory’s all-time leading NCAA Tournament scorer with three goals, while junior Lidija Barauskas and freshman Clare Mullins each set the program’s all-time record with two assists apiece.  Senior Meghan McMahon scored her second career tournament game-winning goal (during the Eagles’ overtime win over Lynchburg), the most in the history of the team.

During the season, Emory recorded a program-best four wins against teams ranked in the top-25, going 4-1-3 in their eight games against ranked opponents.  The Eagles also had a flair for the dramatic during the season, scoring a program-record five ‘golden goals,’ including a pair from senior Lauren Smith.  The Eagles utilized one of Smith’s overtime game winners in their season-opening 2-1 victory over Lee University, the top-ranked NAIA team and eventual NAIA National Champions.  Emory finished second in the University Athletic Association (UAA) in 2010, ending conference play with a 4-1-2 record. 

Defender Lauren Gorodetsky became the first freshman to earn all-America honors in over four years, as she was named to the second team.  She keyed a defense that recorded a 0.56 goals-against average (the 23^rd-lowest mark among NCAA Division III teams), while holding opponents to just 4.1 shots on goal per game, including 11 games of three shots on goal or less.  Sophomore goalkeeper Kaele Leonard, who split time in the net with sophomore Erica Stein, finished the year ranked fourth in Division III with a 0.926 save percentage (the second-best mark in program history) and sixth with a school-record 0.329 goals-against average.

Costopoulos became the first player in the program’s history to be named the UAA’s Rookie of the Year after leading the team with eight goals, 17 points and three game-winning goals during the season.  Senior Melanie Levy (five goals and four assists for 14 points) joined Gorodetsky on the all-UAA first team, while Costopoulos earned second team honors, and sophomore Lee Bachouros and senior Emily Rubin were selected as honorable mentions.

The following Eagles earned honors during the 2010 season: